I’m writing this with a heavy heart because recently my only brother was rushed to the emergency room after showing symptoms that looked like a stroke. Thankfully, the doctors later determined that it was not a stroke, but rather the result of extreme stress caused by something known as Caregiver Syndrome.
Caregiver Syndrome is the physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can develop when someone spends months or years caring for a loved one, often putting that person’s needs ahead of their own. Watching my brother go through this has opened my eyes to the tremendous burden he has been carrying while caring for our mom, who has been living with Alzheimer’s disease and serious mobility issues for several years.
As if that weren’t enough, he’s also dealing with numbness in his left arm caused by a pinched nerve that requires treatment, as well as a heart condition called arrhythmia. His doctors have recommended additional testing, including wearing a heart monitor for 24 hours to better understand what’s happening with his heart. These medical expenses continue to add up.
My brother works from home repairing bicycles so he can stay close to our mom while also supporting his children, who are currently in school. He has been divorced for many years, making these responsibilities even more challenging.
As for me, I’ve been driving full-time for Uber and Lyft for nearly nine years, largely because the flexibility allows me to work whenever necessary. Unfortunately, since around 2021, driver pay has steadily declined, forcing many drivers to spend longer hours on the road simply to make ends meet.
I’ve been helping my brother and my mom however I can, but after learning about his recent medical emergency, I decided to start working on Saturdays, which has traditionally been my day of rest. I observe Shabbat as the Day of Rest established by God in the Scriptures, but Yeshua also taught that helping those in need on the Sabbath is not a violation of God’s law.
For that reason, I now dedicate 100% of everything I earn driving on Saturdays—including every tip—to helping my brother and my mom with their medical and living expenses.
During the rest of the week, any tips or donations I receive help cover the operating expenses of continuing to drive so I can keep supporting them. Your generosity doesn’t simply help me continue driving—it helps a son care for his mother and a brother stand beside his only sibling during one of the most difficult seasons of our lives.
If you would like to support us, you can do so in whichever way is most convenient for you:
Support me directly here through Buy Me a Coffee.
Send a tip through Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/edsilvaclub
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If you’re one of my Uber or Lyft passengers, you can also leave a tip directly through the Uber or Lyft app.
Whether you choose to contribute financially or simply keep my family in your prayers, please know that your kindness truly makes a difference.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
May God richly bless you.
